13,520 Garden Web Discussions | Perennials

Oh yeah. In regards to the Subject Line "I want a more impressive Red Hot Poker"

I remember my first week working at the nursery. Was told to go move some plants from one house another out in the field. As I am moving the plants, some guy comes walking up to me out of nowhere and says to me: "This is the most Phallus looking plant in the nursery!!!".

I couldn't help but laugh as the guy walked away. Went about my work. At the end of the day when I was punching out, the same man was standing near the office. I had to smile as I looked at him. He then introduced himself as the Owner of the nursery

I have 'Nancy's Red', but it really lacks vigour for me here. I wonder if it is not quite hardy in this zone.

glad to hear it.

I generally don't have problems with water issues in the front of my house, though my back yard frequently gets standing water from the ground freezing part of the winter (though I can't recall losing a single plant from it).

I heard sweet laura is fragrant. Is it stick your nose in and imagine kind of fragrant or hey what is that smell as you walk in the yard kind of fragrant?

Life got interesting for a while there, and honestly isn't over itself yet, but I am itching for spring, so here I am...

one last question...how tall do your Alstroemerias get?

Thanks

Chills

I'd call Laura only moderately fragrant. None of the rest have any fragrance at all, so I guess it's something. But you do have to stick your nose right in it.

The height varies. Laura is the tallest one I've got, gets up to about 24" inches/knee high basically in the best of years. I have a pink one of unknown variety that came from the floral department at Nino Salvagio's in Rochester about 5-6 years ago that gets almost as tall. The rest vary from about 10-12 inches to about 18". Quite a few of the colors I have are dwarf ones that seemed to have been bred specifically for pot culture -- I picked up 4 or 5 different colors at Lowes about 3 years ago in the spring out in their perennials, and I got some from a vendor at the Oakland County Farmer's Market who has a pretty good range of colors.

I have done a search for Delosperma Reznicek on GW and nothing. Is there any reason to think it is any hardier or 'prettier' than the above more common "Ice Plants"?

After being told these wouldn't live indoors, I tried some cuttings. I put them under an aquarium light. They all rooted and have been blooming off and on all winter. They are now trailing out of the pot. I think those who can't over-winter them could easily grow them indoors. People use simple aquarium lights for growing all sorts of plants indoors. Every cutting I tried rooted and grew well indoors. I'm pretty sure they would grow in a bright window without the extra lighting.

To add to your "Have" and "Want" exchange page on GW first go down and click on "Member Pages". It is in the green bar at the bottom of every gardenweb page.

Click on "Edit your Exchange Lists". From there you can list all the things you have to trade or are looking for. When done hit "Submit". You can then preview it or go back and click "Edit your Exchange Lists" to make changes.

If your email is blocked a trader will not be able to contact you. To un-block your email click on "Member Pages" again. This time click on "Edit your Personal Information etc". At the very bottom there should be a section where you can select who can email you. Click on the option that allows only GW members to email you (unless you don't mind your email being shown to non-members reading the forums too).

Ps. It is always a good idea to make a copy of the list on your computer as a back up! I learned the hard way, lol!

If you have any more questions or troubles feel free to ask here or even email me directly...
Hope that helped you some.
CMK

Ooops. Didn't see your second post that stated you had figured it out on your own (hey! I have only had half a cup of coffe so far today, give me a break, lol!).

Maybe my explanation will help anyone else that is interested in knowing how to do it though... ;-)
CMK

Hey I'm with you guys I don't like the little creeps either. I just don't like spraying chemicals if possible. As far as the light clothing it has worked for other people. I was just suggesting to see who it would work for. Maybe yo had perfume or something on to attract them. As far as the lemon balm plants. Did you take a leaf ans squeeze it then rub the oil on you Skin???

I know we don't want to put toxins in the environment or around our families. I found a great site on how to get rid of mosquitoes and they have organic ways to get rid of these pest.

I have part of a very old, very ornate, cement column from some unknown building torn down years ago in Mpls. I found it in the yard of a house being torn down in my neighborhood, so I (cough, cough) rescued it from the backhoes. It is without a doubt my favorite garden ornament. In fact it kind of sets the standard for anything else I allow in my garden.

Kevin

Mother's Day gift from DD:

Mother's Day gift from DS:

No occasion garden art from DS who didn't know what it was but since it looked nautical he bought it for me (I love to sail). When he opened the back of his car I exclaimed, "It's a cleat!! He replied, "I knew you'd know what it is!!"

He also brought me the rope--found it among some rocks out in the Thimble Islands in Long Island Sound. Stuffed it into his kayak and paddled a mile back to shore with his legs dangling out either side.

rouge21 Thank you for the link. I was not expecting big things so whatever I get I will be satisfied. The first one I got did not survive the winter. This is being sent as a replacement for the one that died so this one is free.

aachenelf
When I say visualize. I have pics of my gardens for each season. I look at those pics and think about what they might need or if there is a void in certain spots that I can add something to give it a boost. I have 4 acres so I have a lot of space. I have put in the bushes for structure now I am adding some flowers and foliage plants.

mxk3...LOL I have had to put myself on a budget now that I am on a fixed income. That disposable income I had when I was working is not there now.

diggerdee, You have to get going. Come on order something. I do not want to be the only crazy winter bird one. I do not think I will ever say it is my last order unless I am 6' under. I will probably ordering plants on my death bed.

I do not like ordering too many plants online. If I can get them locally that is my first choice. The bulb selection online is always the best.

Bumping this up so see if anyone has anymore suggestions for dark leaf color Geraniums. With all the discussion of Havana Blue I am thinking I want to order some more geraniums.

Although not a dark leaf geranium, it seems everyone loves Jolly Bee are there any others that are favorites. I do not mind sprawling.

Thank you so much for the suggestions you all have made. I do appreciate your help. It is so helpful getting growers recommendations than what the vendors say you will get.

You're right. That did sound kind of odd.

K

Well, that was not what I expected! There was actually one beautiful image in there, the tree that looked like a ballerina... unless, of course, I was missing something there, lol!

Dee

P.S. Kevin, I know what you mean - I usually send lots of stories and videos to my mom, but I think I'll pass on sending her this one - even though she'd probably laugh a lot harder than I did!

I've used bugguide a little, mostly for butterflies. They have tons of great pictures. Do they have a "Name that Bug" forum similar to "Name that Plant"? Boy, that would be helpful.

its not always that they have a named forum.. its whether it is populated by peeps who take the time to answer..

the biologists in name that plant are ferocious.. and they know plants and bugs ...

there is a pest forum ... which is not as active.. etc ...

and many other.. link below ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

Congratulations to Sarah!

Ditto! and Woo Hoo! I get to be #100!! Happy Valentine's day everybody!

Cheers,

Julie

Thanks, wellspring! I will definitely contact them. I just found out about a local lavender farm ( http://www.thelavenderfarminlincoln.com/ ) and plan to call them as well. I will post any info related to the topic. Thanks for everyone's input. I really appreciate it. Marlene

It's funny wellspring mentioned Goodwin Creek nursery as I was going to suggest that variety of lavender. Goodwin Creek lavender has silver grey leaves and holds itself well.

w/o knowing what plants you are talking about.. its kinda hard to offer you any precise comments ...

but let me put it to you this way ... the only plants that should be active.. are those that live in the temp interface we are dealing with ... and they should be able to handle it on there own ...

e.g. some of my spring bulbs are a bit taller than usual ... but they should be able to handle it.. since they bloom near the end of winter any way .. its not all that much out of the norm ..

whereas.. if a tulip is 2 months early ... and BLOOMING.. that flower isnt going to appreciate it all ... but i doubt it will have any impact on the greenery ...

in the millions of years of evolution of any given plant.. one mild winter.. is not going to kill them off ... but it may impact the show they give this summer .. buds might be killed ... but that should not make them terminal ...

if it makes you happy.. protect them.. but on my 5 acres.. there is nothing i can do.. but complain all summer about whatever happened ...

make sense??

and this all presumes no other variables .. like hyper-fertilization late in fall ... which might cause secondary problems ..

ken

Things always pop up when its mild. I've got sprouts starting on the usual suspects, like daffodils, but barely above the ground, maybe half an inch.

If extreme cold snaps threaten, and something looks vulnerable, I generally try to find some light, fluffy oak leaves and toss them over it. That works.

The only thing I have that is really out of whack is my Helleborus orientalis. The dumb thing started blooming in November, and is now in full bloom. I've been covering it with a heavy cardboard box when the coldest nights have struck. So far so good.